Having won the trophy for the three previous seasons, Joe Fagan's men were looking to win an unprecedented fourth on the bounce but Everton were enjoying a revival under Howard Kendall's managership that would lead them to silverware in the coming years and a keenly-competitive contest was expected.

Liverpool was likely a ghost town on Sunday March 25 as thousands of Scousers travelled down to the capital for the historic occasion - a banner hung over one of the motorway routes of the city read, “Would the last ones out of Liverpool please switch off the lights”.

At a time of severe economic hardship, Merseyside was united for the final, providing a much-needed postive showcase for the city with fans from both sides travelling to the Capital together.

Rather than cause trouble, the two sets of rival fans were praised by London police for their good behaviour, with Wembley echoing to chants of "Merseyside, Merseyside, Merseyside".

On a rain-sodden Wembley pitch, Everton started the brighter and had strong penalty claims turned down early on by referee Alan Robinson when Alan Hansen appeared to use his hand to deflect an Adrian Heath shot off the line.

Ian Rush, who finished the season with 47 goals in all competitions, was denied by Neville Southall and Alan Kennedy also went close as Liverpool sought to break the deadlock but neither side could make the breakthrough which meant a replay at Maine Road, Manchester three days later.

Reds skipper Graeme Souness decided matters there, beating Neville Southall with a well-struck left-footed effort from 20 yards midway through the first half, to clinch the first leg of what would be a trophy treble, with the league title and the European Cup following by the end of the season.